Brad Rowswell says in budget reply speech ‘it won’t always be like this’

Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell has issued an appeal to businesses planning to flee Victoria, saying “Labor will not always be in charge”.

Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell has issued a desperate plea to businesses, urging them not to leave the state.

Delivering his budget reply speech in parliament on Tuesday, Mr Rowswell pledged to make it easier for businesses to operate in Victoria.

“We would grow Victoria’s economy by incentivising investment and providing policy certainty rather than forcing businesses to pack up,” he said, flagging an intention to boost the local defence industry to capitalise on AUKUS-related spending.

“To those businesses and investors who are considering leaving Victoria because – as they’ve told me, it’d be easier to do business elsewhere – I say to them ‘please stick with us’.

Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell has pledged to make it easier for businesses to operate in Victoria. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“It won’t always be like this – it can’t always be like this. Labor will not always be in charge.”

Last week’s state budget revealed Victoria’s eye watering debt will soar to a whopping $187.8bn – or $67,000 for every household.

But the bad news budget, which included broken election promises, and delays and cuts in health, education and major project, wasn’t criticised by business groups who welcomed the government’s decision to not introduce additional taxes.

In his budget response, Mr Rowswell said “lower, fairer, simpler taxes are coming” if the Coalition is elected in 2026.

The opposition has criticised Treasurer Tim Pallas’ ‘bad news budget’. Picture: Getty

“A government that enables businesses to thrive is on its way,” he said.

“(We will be) a government that will roll out more red carpet and less red tape to investors.”

By mid 2027, taxpayers will stump up a whopping $25.6m every day in interest repayments alone.

Mr Rowswell said that money could pay for 128 ambulances, fund 2715 elective surgeries or pay the annual salary of 315 nurses, 510 Victoria police recruits or 305 paramedics every day.

The opposition have renewed calls for the mega Suburban Rail Loop project to be paused, saying it will “cost too much and take too long”.

“The costings of the Suburban Rail Loop are still labelled TBC. Now, when Labor says TBC, do they mean ‘to be confirmed’? Or maybe it actually stands for to be canned,” he said.

“One can only hope and I suspect this government’s federal colleagues wholeheartedly agree.”

Mr Rowswell said the opposition will introduce a debt cap and reinstate a local Productivity Commission, if elected in 2026.

In Question Time, Treasurer Tim Pallas slammed the debt cap proposal as “ludicrous”.

“That would effectively shut down government,” Mr Pallas said.